Search - Picture Bride on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Movie Release: 1995 DVD Release: 06/01/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, Japanese Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: Miramax Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Drama, Docudrama, Marriage Drama

The struggles of a young Japanese who leaves her home to marry an stranger are chronicled in this historical drama based on true stories. Picture brides were Japanese women contracted to marry Japanese sugar-cane laborers working in Hawaii. The couple would agree to marry based on the photos they sent to one another. Riyo, an orphaned 17-year old, sails from Yokohama to Hawaii to marry Matsuji. She is appalled to see that Matsuji sent her an old photograph and that he is 25 years older than she. Angered, the spunky bride refuses to sleep with her new husband. She is however obligated to work on the plantation. The miserable girl finds solace with her new friend Kana, a young mother. Riyo decides she will earn her way back to Japan even though, at only sixty five cents per day, it could take years to save the $300 for the return fare. She meets more obstacles and continues to stay away from her husband until a tragedy befalls Kana. This serves to bring the two together and leads Riyo to accept her new life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Youki Kudoh - Riyo
Akira Takayama - Matsuji
Tamlyn Tomita - Kana
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa - Kanzaki
Toshiro Mifune - The Benshi

Kayo Hatta's 1995 film Picture Bride is given a first-rate widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by the director and a featurette on the making of the film. This is a solid release that offers superb sound and picture quality. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide